Citi Storm surprised everyone in The Speaker’s Cup, winning it from the more favoured stable mate, Flying Rudolph. Finding himself the widest of all, Citi Storm swept past the field and although he ran a bit erratic, coming in sharply inside the 200 meters, won by a length to spare. Global Presence ran a prominent race till 200 meters finished third. Arrow of Light returned lame in the race.
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| CITI STORM |
L.D’Silva scored a back to back double when his ward Hypnotiq won the Fire Heaven Cup. Hypnotiq had almost got hemmed up between Classic Cruise who was shortening his strides along the rails and Indian Dancer along with Rudolph Valentino who had picked up momentum near the distance post. Extricating himself from the mess jockey Harish surged ahead to score an encore. Indian Dancer finished second ahead of Rudolph Valentino.
The Bhagmathi Cup was divided into two races. Copertina won the higher division from Kohinoor Star. Kohinoor Star unleashed a run on the wide outside and had momentarily passed Copertina. With sheer perseverance from Dominic Fox, Copertina could overhaul the Star’s effort. Copertina who was reported to have had a set back, looks to be getting back to form and could be followed from now on. Montush appeared from nowhere and finished third. The favourite Indradhanush claimed the lower division in a resolute manner. Heydan who had led early in the race finished second.
Long shot True Fashion sprang a surprise in the higher division of the Trade Fair Plate. Appearing through the field around 300 meters from home, True Fashion drew away to win comfortably. Splendid Scot and Hari Har Priya finished behind the winner in that order.
The winning berth that was eluding Dancing Touch during Monsoon went his way in the lower division. Posted as the firm favourite, Prasad Raju’s ward lengthened his strides on the straight and justified the favouritism. Essence moved on to finish second ahead of Flash Flares and See You There.
With the benefit of a good run on the opening day of winter, Arsham won the concluding race readily. The connections must have been delighted by his performance as most of the money went Arsham’s way in the betting, closing at 16 to 10. Debonair moved from the last position at 100 meters to finish second. Festivals of India was withdrawn before the race.
While trainers L.D’Silva, Prasad Raju and S.A.Shehzad Abbas scored a double each, jockey Dominic.R.Fox and apprentice A Ashhad Asbar had their share of two wins apiece.
